Help me build my ION.....

I am beggining my ION build and have some construction and mod queries.

First of all, the kit is very complete down to the servo wires needed to extend the original servo lead from the wing to the receiver, nice.

1) Does it make sense to replace the steel wing joiner with a carbon bar?
2) Would you replace the wood dowels for the wing into carbon rods?
3) Would you twist/braid the servo leads for the wings (making it harder to put them in there)?
4) Would you do a glide test?
5) Is goop strong enough for the elevator servo or do I need to put in a block of wood, in addition, to screw the servo to (HS56 Karbonite)?
6) What is the best way to cut elevator servo bay access hatch (It really matters to me that it is perfectly round).

I am beggining my ION build and have some construction and mod queries.

First of all, the kit is very complete down to the servo wires needed to extend the original servo lead from the wing to the receiver, nice.

1) Does it make sense to replace the steel wing joiner with a carbon bar?
2) Would you replace the wood dowels for the wing into carbon rods?
3) Would you twist/braid the servo leads for the wings (making it harder to put them in there)?
4) Would you do a glide test?
5) Is goop strong enough for the elevator servo or do I need to put in a block of wood, in addition, to screw the servo to (HS56 Karbonite)?
6) What is the best way to cut elevator servo bay access hatch (It really matters to me that it is perfectly round).

Rgds, bing

1) absolutely not
2) I did only after breaking the wood dowls, but that was a pretty bad crash! I would not do it to start out with.
3) Why bother twisting the wires, theory is not as good as experience.
4) You cannot throw the model hard enough for a glide test. I NEVER glide test an electric model. You have a motor!
5) Just goop is good enough. Just roughen both servo and inside of tail where gluing.
6) Dremel tool with a router bit, free hand following a laid out circle.

Don, who enjoyed his Ion with a B50-LMR, 12 GP3300's on a 16.5x15 Aeronaut prop on a 5 degree twisted yoke yielding an over square prop. It was one fast plane which still termaled and landed slow. Good enough for 2nd place at the first VA F5B contest.

I am in the process of installing the elevator servo and the elevator control horn....

1) I usually attach the horn near the hinge line, but, in the Quiet Flyer review/article, the elevator control horn is closer to the trailing edge of the elevator. Is the the right way to do it?

2) The instructions say to glue the plastic elevator clevis to the music wire leading to the elevator. What!?! Will CA hold in such an application? Or should I go out and buy a threaded rod or maybe put a Z bend on both ends?

Everthing is set, 'cept for the speedo, reciever and battery installation. Waiting on Kwilliby for some battery placement tips. Aileron servos gooped, elevator screwed on and gooped. Strapping is for leverage in case I need to service the servos. I'll do the decals and some graphics after the maiden this saturday. Wish me luck!

Images

The build looks great! Good job and I hope the maiden is event-free. I do have to comment on post #2. I think a test glide is crucial, and certainly easy enough with an electric glider. I had someone give mine a nice strong level push into a field with deep grass and found out my trim was way off. Without the test glide, the plane would have augered into the ground with motor on and at higher speed. There's no reason not to do this unless you have 27 cells crammed into an F5B ship with a blade-thin wing.

I did a mock set up and put the ION on the CG machine. It seems the HS56HB servo in the elevator instead of your HS81 shifted the weight such that the front of the pack is only around 2 inches forward of the 90mm CG, well inside the wing saddle area. I also have heavier HS125MGs in the wing vs. yer HS 81s which pushes the wieght to the front even more.

I moved the front of the 7 inch battery tray to just below the canopy opening instead of your 1.5 inches. Good thing I tested it as you suggested or the battery would have been at the end of the tray without much room for moving the CG further back if needed.

I got the flu this weekend, couldnt do the final radio install, and missed my birthday maiden. Next saturday will be the day, better late than never. I officially finished the ION tonight.

I did a mock set up and put the ION on the CG machine. It seems the HS56HB servo in the back instead of your HS85 shifted the weight such that the pack is only just forward of the 90mm CG. I moved the front of the 7 inch battery tray to just below the canopy opening. Good thing I did that or the battery would have been at the end of the tray without much room for moving the Cg further back.

Thanks!

bing

glad you tried it before glueing it in. i forgot about your lighter servo in the tail. my hs81 is a bit heavier and did cause me to have to move the battery further forward.

i think you'll find that 90mm flies great. at 75mm mine felt really nose heavy. thanks to soho for the tip on the cg.

sounds like you are getting close to the maiden flight. let me know how it goes.